Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has visited China’s Three Gorges Dam to examine its approach to hydroelectric generation, flood control and water management. The trip comes as his province deals with mounting problems from floods and water scarcity.
Shah led a senior delegation to the dam on the Yangtze River, where Chinese officials briefed the group on power generation, flood control, water storage and river management. Travelling with him were provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Jam Khan Shoro and Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar, along with Special Assistant Syed Qasim Naveed and other senior officials.
Chinese officials outline the dam’s scale and operations
Officials told the delegation that the structure was completed in 2012 after almost two decades of construction. It has an installed capacity of 22,500 megawatts and generates more than 100 terawatt-hours of electricity a year. They described it as the world’s largest hydroelectric power station.
Shah toured several sections of the dam and received a detailed presentation on its planning, construction and operation. The group then viewed observation points overlooking the dam and its navigation system before heading back to Wuhan for the next stage of the programme.
Sindh looks at storing surplus Indus River water
Shah said Sindh regularly suffers floods during the monsoon and shortages during dry periods, problems that have heightened concerns about climate change. He noted that the province receives large seasonal flows through the Indus River system but has limited capacity to hold surplus water for farming, urban supply and industry.
During the briefing, Shah showed particular interest in the dam’s combined approach to water storage, flood regulation and real-time hydrological monitoring. He said the provincial government would assess whether parts of the Chinese model could suit Sindh, especially in reservoir operations, flood forecasting, sediment management and freshwater storage. He also told accompanying officials to study Chinese best practice in hydrological monitoring, smart reservoir operation and integrated river basin management.
Shah argued that the Three Gorges experience shows how engineering and long-term planning can turn water resources into drivers of economic growth, energy security and climate resilience.
Indus Delta protection and expanded cooperation with China
Shah also stressed the need to protect the Indus Delta, where seawater intrusion threatens coastal communities and ecosystems. He said future water infrastructure must balance development with environmental protection, and that any conservation strategy must safeguard the delta’s ecological needs while boosting farm output and shielding vulnerable communities from floods and droughts.
Chinese officials said they were willing to share technical expertise and experience in water resource management and climate adaptation. Both sides discussed possible institutional cooperation in these fields. The visit forms part of a week-long official tour of China focused on infrastructure, investment, technology, education and sustainable development.
